Industrialism was less of a jump for China and Japan (and maybe the other places you mention -- I am not too familiar with their history) because they already had regimented work, national markets, centralized governments, &c.

> > I would be happy to tell you how stupid you are based > > on some unhappy incident in your people's history. > You misunderstood me...

My point is, many of the "smart" peoples of the world were embroiled, not too long ago, in the pleasures of fascism. Consider also the Chinese -- they are smarter than all of us. What kind of government have they got? Not one characterized by its trust of the people...